Hey, We Found You a New Hobby!
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Remember in March 2020 when we all had the TikTok sound “Bored in the house and I’m in the house bored” stuck in our heads on repeat? Yeah, let’s never go back to that place ever again. It’s 2022, better days are coming, and no one, I repeat NO. ONE. is getting bored on my watch, no matter how much free time they find themselves with. Because you know what my friend? We’re going to find you a gosh darn hobby.
Yes, a hobby. No, it doesn’t have to be coin collecting or building model trains (though I’m not judging if that’s what you’re into). I’ve searched far and wide to put together a list of new hobbies to try that will have a first date, Insta story stalker, or college admissions specialist thinking, "wow, that baddie right there is interesting," and came out with a number of ideas that are *actually* fun, easy, and affordable, so you can pick them up and get them started ASAP.
Whether you’re looking for fun things to do with friends or you’re simply flying solo, scroll through to find the best hobbies for adults (that’s you!). And if you realize you have a calling for whatever hobby you chose, don’t forget about me when you’re famous!
Hobbies for Staying at Home
1. Pizza making
Mamma mia, we love this one! Grab a bag of pizza dough from your local grocery store (we love the herb and garlic dough from Trader Joe's #JoesBeforeBros), roll it out, and slap your favorite toppings on to create your ideal pie. Once you start getting the hang of it, you can start investing in some tools, like a pizza oven you can attach to your grill, or a pizza stone that keeps the crust perfectly crispy every time.
2. Gua sha
A traditional Chinese medicine practice involving massaging the skin with a stone, gua sha is one of my favorite ways to practice self care. But doing it right means learning from a pro. Luckily, there’s plenty of information out there, and YouTube videos are a great place to start (we love this one from Sandra Lanshin Chiu, L.Ac., and suggest making sure your teacher is trained in Chinese medicine). We also put together a gua sha guide you can check out if you’re ready to go all in.
3. Wreck This Journal
If you didn’t have a “Wreck This Journal” back in the Tumblr days, it’s basically a coloring book/journal/scrapbook/napkin (yes, napkin). The therapeutic journal will start out super nice and neat but, once you’re done with all of the prompts, it’ll be your own, one-of-a-kind, ultra-healing masterpiece.
4. Calligraphy
Whether you’re looking to up your stationery game or elevate your note-taking, learning calligraphy will undoubtedly add a lot to your life. Getting the skill down is totally free (there are tons of great resources online) but, beware, the pens may make your credit card a little sad.
5. Gaming
From Animal Crossing to Myst, there’s absolutely something for you in the gaming world. Just be sure to do it right and splurge on a gorgeous gaming setup!
6. Gardening
Okay, this one may sound overwhelming, but you can ease into it! Whether you want to start with some small indoor house plants that are on the low-maintenance side or you have the space to get down and dirty, gardening is a great way to keep yourself busy (and your space really cute).
7. Throwing themed dinner parties
Now that it’s a bit safer for us to gather with our vaccinated frands, doing weekly *themed* (very important) dinner parties can be a great way to debrief. The best themes I’ve seen are “1997 Romeo and Juliet,” “Studio 54,” and “Positano, Italy,” but I’m sure you’ll come up with ones that are evennn better.
8. Learning to cook
Don’t feel bad, Paris Hilton is still navigating the kitchen too! If you’re looking for ways to make learning to cook super fun, I suggest picking a workbook to cook through from top to bottom or pick something random from this yummy list of TikTok recipes every night.
Adorably Quirky Hobbies
9. Nature photography
Seeing life through a lens can make you appreciate it even more, and that’s exactly why I love getting outside and photographing nature. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a DSLR, I'm all about that iPhone camera life. Next stop: new Insta account!
10. Self-defense
It’s a wild, wild world out there, and knowing how to take someone out at the knees isn't a bad skill to have in your back pocket. There are several self-defense classes you can take online for free (our favorite is this one from the SEPS Women’s Self Defense Program) or you can do a quick Google search to see if there are any classes offered near you.
11. Make your own milk alternative
Yup. Instead of buying your almond milk and oat milk from the grocery store (which I know is deliciously easy), try making them yourself? Just look up some recipes online (like this one from Delish.com) grab your nut milk bag, and get started. Your lattes will thank you!
12. Puzzling
If you’ve ever placed that final piece into a puzzle, you know that’s a feeling worth repeating. With their range of sizes, shapes, and designs, you’ll never run out of puzzles to tackle. Plus, if you really love one once you’re done, you can frame it for a rustic artwork moment.
13. Learn to read tarot cards
If you’re really into tarot readings, it could be very worthwhile to delve into the specifics and learn to do it yourself. Lucky for you, we have a comprehensive guide to how to read tarot cards.
14. Pickling
Did you know that you can pickle pretty much any fruit or vegetable? If you pick up a handy fermentation kit—or get some Mason jars, vinegar, salt, sugar, and spices to go completely DIY—you can easily transform your produce into the perfect snack or garnish.
15. Candle-making
Candles can be expensive as hell. But not if you make them yourself! DIYing them also means you can make your home smell *exactly* how you want it to, which is kind of amazing.
Art Chick™ Hobbies
16. Cake decorating
Making art and eating it too? That just takes the cake! Get creative with fondant, icing, candy, sprinkles, and whatever else your lil hungry heart can dream of and get decorating, boo! There are plenty of YouTube channels that will teach you the basics (one of our faves is Cake Cake), or you can simply have at it and learn as you go. If you end up finding that you have a knack for it, I’ve got good news: a well-decorated cake can go for $$$. Hello, side hustle!
17. Poetry
Hey Tumblr kid, we know you’re in there! Let your thoughts flow and speak your truth through poetry. Whether you choose to rhyme or prefer spittin’ prose, the more you write, the better you’ll get—and the better you’ll feel. Promise!
18. Scrapbooking
Hey, remember pre-pandemic when you used to go out and hug friends and throw parties and take vacations and see the world? Good times. Make sure you remember them by scrapbooking those wonderful mems. You can design cute pages with photos, ticket stubs, stickers, playbills, and more. Not only will they be great to look back at when you’re feeling blue, but they’ll also prove to your hypothetical future kids how hot their parent was back in the day.
19. Crocheting
From crop tops to cardigans to blankets and bags, the world is your oyster when you learn to crochet. After you grab your needles and your favorite colors of yarn, you can find tons of (free) easy-to-follow patterns on Love Crafts to get you started.
20. Painting
Painting is not only amazingly therapeutic but a cost-effective way to spruce up your space with a personal touch. If you want to skip the experimental phase and follow the greats, you can watch some Bob Ross reruns on Hulu or browse the plethora of how-tos on YouTube.
21. Punch needling
You may have noticed the adorable, handmade rugs that are taking over Instagram and TikTok and thought, “I want one!” Well, I believe in your ability to make some yourself. You can find all the tools you’ll need in this beginner kit and, after a few attempts, I’m sure you’ll be pumping out 8” x 10” area rugs in no time.
22. Making playlists
Whether you organize them based on mood, activity, or even location, making playlists can be an awesome, low-stress hobby. Even Obama does it!
23. Songwriting
I mean, Olivia Rodrigo wrote record-breaking hits in her downtime, so who's to say you can’t become the world's biggest pop star too? Just whip out a notebook (and those heartbreak memories) and see what comes of it. Who knows? You could surprise yourself.
Very Fahncy Hobbies
24. Learning a new language
If the only thing you can say in another language is "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi," it’s about time to make some changes, my friend. Download a language learning app like Duolingo or Babbel on your phone, take on a tried-and-true Rosetta Stone course, or sign up for an immersive class somewhere near you. Whichever you choose, you’ll be better for it—just think about how many international hotties you can strike up a convo with on your next vacay!
25. Wine tasting
We will take any excuse to drink wine, especially if it’s under the guise of ~learning~. Sip enough vino—and accompany it with a wine-appreciation Masterclass or book—and soon you’ll actually be reading the wine list at a restaurant instead of simply looking for the cheapest bottle.
26. Meditation
Get your ohm on (*Missy Elliot voice*) and find your inner peace (yes, it’s in there somewhere) by learning how to meditate. If you have a Netflix subscription or your ex still hasn’t logged you out of their account, we recommend taking the Headspace Guide to Meditation course available for free on the platform, which is perf for beginners.
27. Pilates
If you’re looking for a more active hobby, here ya go! All of our favorite celebs have made it clear that Pilates is the workout-du-jour, so definitely try it out if you’re looking to do something other than running on the treadmill.
28. Mixology
Start by learning the classics, like a perfect cosmopolitan (*wink*) or an old-fashioned. Then, go off and explore with whatever’s in your pantry. Just, please, don’t start calling yourself a “mixologist.” Please. Check out our fave cocktail recipes though.
29. Take a masterclass
Well, maybe we can rephrase this to "become a student again" but y'all get what I mean. If you want a hobby that’ll truly help you better yourself and become *that* person, investing in Masterclass is the way to go. From TV writing with Shonda Rhimes to cooking with Gordon Ramsey himself, taking this "hobby" seriously will make you good at just about everything.
30. Manicuring
Okay, this is a skill that could make you some extra money, TBH. We’re definitely having a nail art renaissance and learning to do it yourself would be HUGE. All side-hustle efforts aside, if you can get your left hand done without it looking like your right hand’s awkward sister, I’ll be thoroughly impressed.
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